2005 Vintner Select Merlot

2005 Vintner Select Merlot

Clone 3 Merlot vines planted on a vein of rocky, volcanic soil in our Lower Mountain Top vineyard block create this expressive single vineyard wine. Heady red fruit and floral notes of blueberry, raspberry, plum and freesia are balanced by brown sugar, anise and toffee aromas. The seductive nose and mid-palate lead into a silky finish as fully integrated tannins caress the tongue.

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Appellation: Sonoma County
Vintage: 2005
Harvest: October 2005
Fermentation: Stainless Steel
Cooperage: French Oak
Blend: 100% Merlot
Alcohol: 15.7%
Bottling: July 2007
Production: 490 cases
Release Date: November 2007
Release Price: $75.00

Reviews

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  • California Grapevine: December 07/January 08 - Rating: 91

    Medium to medium-dark ruby with purplish tinges; attractive, intense, complex, toasty, tarrish, dark currant and black cherry fruit aroma; full body, rich, plush, plumy, concentrated, toasty, textured, mouth-filling, dark berry fruit flavors; full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Could use another three to five more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended.

  • The Wine Advocate: December 28, 2007 Issue 174 - Rating: 94

    The 2005 Vintner's Select is a dense, full-bodied red wine that stains the teeth and fills the mouth with notes of chocolate, mocha, roasted espresso, blackberries, and sweet cherries. This whopper of a Merlot is dense, chewy, and oozing with fruit and glycerin. Consume this stunning 2005 over the next decade.

  • Wine Spectator: January/February 2008 - Rating: 91

    Supple yet well structured underneath, with bold aromas of black cherry, toasty oak and roasted coffee aromas. The flavors are concentrated yet fleshy, with plum, cedar and pencil notes. Best from 2008 through 2012. 490 cases made

  • Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: May/June 2008 Issue 138 - Rating: 93

    Good full red-ruby. Sexy aromas of raspberry, mocha, minerals and nutty oak. Fat, lush and seamless, with impressively dense flavors of dark fruits, mocha and nutty oak lifted by subtle finishing minerality. The tannins are substantial but sweet, and this very rich, layered merlot retains freshness on the very long finish.